The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas a seven-day deadline to ensure lawmakers refund funds received under the N110 billion vehicle procurement and support allowance schemes declared unlawful by a Federal High Court.
SERAP said the National Assembly leadership must act immediately to recover the funds and implement measures to prevent future violations of procurement and accountability laws.
SERAP Demands Refund of N110bn
In a letter dated June 20, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged Akpabio and Abbas to establish mechanisms that would ensure all future procurements and spending by the National Assembly comply with due process and transparency requirements.
The organisation also called for public hearings on the National Assembly budget during every budget cycle and the publication of detailed expenditure records to strengthen accountability and public participation.
According to SERAP, lawmakers should not be allowed to retain benefits obtained from expenditure already declared unlawful by the court.
Court Judgment Behind Demand
The demand follows a judgment delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023.
The court held that the spending of N40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members violated procurement laws, constitutional provisions and public trust obligations.
SERAP argued that the judgment established a legal and factual basis for the recovery of the funds.
‘There Must Be Consequences’
The organisation said the court’s findings showed that the expenditure was characterised by self-dealing, conflict of interest and disregard for the national interest.
“Flowing from Justice Bogoro’s judgment, there must be consequences and full restitution for the lawmakers’ failure to comply with their constitutional and statutory obligations,” SERAP said.
It added that allowing lawmakers to retain the benefits would undermine public confidence in democratic institutions and weaken efforts to combat corruption and abuse of power.
Legal Action Threatened
SERAP noted that while the judgment did not specifically order the refund of the N110 billion, it aligns with constitutional provisions, anti-corruption laws and Nigeria’s international obligations that support restitution where public funds have been unlawfully spent.
The organisation warned that it would institute legal proceedings against Akpabio, Abbas, lawmakers and the National Assembly if the recommendations are not implemented within seven days.
It maintained that public officials must be held accountable whenever public funds are spent in violation of procurement regulations and constitutional safeguards.